U.S. patent application number 12/995263 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-07 for intraocular lens inserting instrument and cartridge.
This patent application is currently assigned to HOYA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Masanobu Inoue.
Application Number | 20110082463 12/995263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41398164 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110082463 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Inoue; Masanobu |
April 7, 2011 |
INTRAOCULAR LENS INSERTING INSTRUMENT AND CARTRIDGE
Abstract
An intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which
enable the intraocular lens to be inserted into an eye more stably
and easily than ever before. A supporting portion 102 of an
intraocular lens 100 arranged on a lens-advancing side in a
lens-advancing direction x is pressed against a protrusion 21 so as
to be bent backward. Thus, releasing the intraocular lens 100 from
a nozzle portion 13 is allowed to begin with the releasing of a
curved portion of the supporting portion 102 that has become
U-shaped and hard to move freely. As a result, there can be
provided an intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which
enable the intraocular lens 100 to be inserted into an eye more
steadily and easily than ever before.
Inventors: |
Inoue; Masanobu; (Honjo,
JP) |
Assignee: |
HOYA CORPORATION
SHINJUKU-KU
JP
|
Family ID: |
41398164 |
Appl. No.: |
12/995263 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
June 3, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/060184 |
371 Date: |
December 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 2/167 20130101;
A61F 2/1664 20130101; A61F 2/1691 20130101; A61F 2/1678
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/107 |
International
Class: |
A61F 9/00 20060101
A61F009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 5, 2008 |
JP |
2008-147781 |
Claims
1. An intraocular lens insertion device comprising: a cylindrical
insertion portion to place therein an intraocular lens having one
or more supporting portions provided on an outer fringe of an
optical portion thereof, said intraocular lens insertion device
pushing out said intraocular lens by a plunger, and then releasing
said intraocular lens to an outside from a nozzle portion of said
cylindrical insertion portion, wherein said supporting portion
arranged on an advancing side with respect to a lens-advancing
direction is bent backward by a bending means in said cylindrical
insertion portion.
2. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 1,
wherein said bending means is a protrusion while said supporting
portion is pressed against said protrusion to be bent backward.
3. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 2,
wherein said protrusion is detachably provided in said cylindrical
insertion portion.
4. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 3,
wherein said protrusion is provided in a separate casing while said
casing is detachably attached to said cylindrical insertion
portion.
5. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 4,
wherein said plunger is provided in a main body of the insertion
device, while said cylindrical insertion portion is a cartridge
attached to said main body of the insertion device, wherein said
cartridge is separated from said casing and attached to said main
body of the insertion device after said supporting portion of the
intraocular lens placed on a lens placement portion is bent by said
protrusion.
6. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 1,
wherein said intraocular lens is of a preset type with said
intraocular lens set in advance.
7. A cartridge attached to a main body of an insertion device
provided with a plunger for pushing out an intraocular lens having
one or more supporting portions provided on an outer fringe of an
optical portion thereof, comprising: a lens placement portion to
place therein said intraocular lens from a lens insertion opening;
a nozzle portion communicating with said lens placement portion to
release said intraocular lens to an outside, wherein said
supporting portion arranged on an advancing side with respect to a
lens-advancing direction is bent backward by a bending means in
said lens placement portion.
8. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein said bending means
is a protrusion while said supporting portion is pressed against
said protrusion to be bent backward.
9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said protrusion is
detachably provided in said lens placement portion.
10. The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said protrusion is
provided in a separate casing while said casing is detachably
attached to said lens placement portion.
11. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said cartridge is
separated from said casing and attached to said main body of the
insertion device after said supporting portion of the intraocular
lens placed on said lens placement portion is bent by said
protrusion.
12. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 2,
wherein said intraocular lens is of a preset type with said
intraocular lens set in advance.
13. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 3,
wherein said intraocular lens is of a preset type with said
intraocular lens set in advance.
14. The intraocular lens insertion device according to claim 4,
wherein said intraocular lens is of a preset type with said
intraocular lens set in advance.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to an intraocular lens insertion
device and a cartridge thereof that are used when implanting an
intraocular lens into an aphakic eye after a cataract
operation.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In a cataract operation, removing an opacified lens by
phacoemulsification (PEA), and implanting an intraocular lens after
removing an opacified lens are widely performed. Intraocular lenses
include: a hard intraocular lens whose optical portion is made of a
hard material such as PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), and a soft
intraocular lens which is made of a soft material such as silicone
elastomer, soft acrylic, or hydrogel.
[0003] When using a hard intraocular lens, the intraocular lens
must be inserted through an incision formed in the cornea or sclera
that is of the same or slightly wider width than the diameter of
the optical portion. On the other hand, when using a soft
intraocular lens, folding of the optical portion allows the
intraocular lens to be inserted into the eye through an incision
smaller than the diameter of the optical portion.
[0004] FIG. 12 shows a soft intraocular lens of this kind A front
view is shown in FIG. 12(A) and a side view is shown in FIG. 12(B).
In practice, a soft intraocular lens 100 of this kind is formed in
a flat circular shape and comprises an optical portion 101 serving
as a crystalline lens in an eyeball and two supporting portions
102, 102 formed in a linear shape. These two supporting portions
102, 102 are provided at two symmetrically opposite sections on the
circumference of the optical portion 101. The supporting portions
102, 102 are extended in the form of a circular arc in such a
manner as gradually departing away from the outer fringe of the
optical portion 101 at a curvature slightly larger than that of the
outer fringe of the optical portion 101
[0005] The soft intraocular lens 100 of this kind is designed so as
to be able to be inserted through a small incision into an eye
after the optical portion 101 thereof is folded in two by an
intraocular lens insertion device disclosed, for example, in Intl
Application Publication Pamphlet of WO2006/090531 or Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-351196.
Patent Document 1: W02006/090531 Intl Application Publication
Pamphlet
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2004-351196
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] According to these conventional intraocular insertion
devices, however, there is a problem that proficiency is required
to insert the intraocular lens 100 into the eye while keeping the
distal end of the supporting portion 102 stable because when
inserting the intraocular lens 100 into a lens capsule C inside an
eyeball E, the distal end of the supporting portion 102 is foremost
discharged from a discharge port 104, as shown in FIG. 13, and thus
the distal end of the supporting portion 102 is prone to be moved
freely.
[0007] In view of the problem described above, it is, therefore, an
object of the present invention to provide an intraocular lens
insertion device and cartridge thereof which enable an intraocular
lens to be inserted into an eye more easily and more stably as
compared to by the conventional ones.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0008] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the
present invention according to a first aspect is characterized by
an intraocular lens insertion device comprising:
[0009] an cylindrical insertion portion to place therein an
intraocular lens having one or more supporting portions provided on
an outer fringe of an optical portion thereof, said intraocular
lens insertion device pushing out said intraocular lens by a
plunger, and then releasing said intraocular lens to an outside
from a nozzle portion of said cylindrical insertion portion,
[0010] wherein said supporting portion arranged on an advancing
side with respect to a lens-advancing direction is bent backward by
a bending means in said cylindrical insertion portion.
[0011] The present invention according to a second aspect is
characterized in that said bending means is a protrusion while said
supporting portion is pressed against said protrusion to be bent
backward.
[0012] The present invention according to a third aspect is
characterized in that said protrusion is detachably provided in
said cylindrical insertion portion.
[0013] The present invention according to a fourth aspect is
characterized in that said protrusion is provided in a separate
casing while said casing is detachably attached to said cylindrical
insertion portion.
[0014] The present invention according to a fifth aspect is
characterized in that said plunger is provided in a main body of
the insertion device, while said cylindrical insertion portion is a
cartridge attached to said main body of the insertion device,
[0015] wherein said cartridge is separated from said casing and
attached to said main body of the insertion device after said
supporting portion of the intraocular lens placed on a lens
placement portion is bent by said protrusion.
[0016] The present invention according to a sixth aspect is
characterized in that said intraocular lens is of a preset type
with said intraocular lens set in advance.
[0017] The present invention according to a seventh aspect is
characterized by a cartridge attached to a main body of an
insertion device provided with a plunger for pushing out an
intraocular lens having one or more supporting portions provided on
an outer fringe of an optical portion thereof, comprising:
[0018] a lens placement portion to place therein said intraocular
lens from a lens insertion opening;
[0019] a nozzle portion communicating with said lens placement
portion to release said intraocular lens to an outside,
[0020] wherein said supporting portion arranged on an advancing
side with respect to a lens-advancing direction is bent backward by
a bending means in said lens placement portion.
[0021] The present invention according to an eighth aspect is
characterized in that said bending means is a protrusion while said
supporting portion is pressed against said protrusion to be bent
backward.
[0022] The present invention according to a ninth aspect is
characterized in that said protrusion is detachably provided in
said lens placement portion.
[0023] The present invention according to a tenth aspect is
characterized in that said protrusion is provided in a separate
casing while said casing is detachably attached to said lens
placement portion.
[0024] The present invention according to an eleventh aspect is
characterized in that said cartridge is separated from said casing
and attached to said main body of the insertion device after said
supporting portion of the intraocular lens placed on said lens
placement portion is bent by said protrusion.
Effects of the Invention
[0025] In accordance with the intraocular lens insertion device
according to the first aspect and the cartridge according to the
seventh aspect, the supporting portion of the intraocular lens
placed on the lens advancing side is bent backward by the bending
means, thus enabling the intraocular lens to be released after it
is folded and made less likely to move freely when it is released
from the nozzle. Thus, the intraocular lens can be more easily
inserted into an eye with the same kept in a more stable condition
than by the conventional ones.
[0026] In accordance with the intraocular lens insertion device
according to the third aspect and the cartridge according to the
ninth aspect, it is possible to prevent the protrusion from
blocking the movement when inserting the intraocular lens into an
eye.
[0027] In accordance with the intraocular lens insertion device
according to the fourth aspect and the cartridge according to the
tenth aspect, the protrusion is provided in the casing, and thus
even thin and short protrusion can be easily engaged or disengaged
by just attaching or detaching the casing to or from the
cartridge.
[0028] In accordance with the intraocular lens insertion device
according to the sixth aspect, in a preset type in which a lens is
set in advance, the intraocular lens can be released after it is
folded and made less likely to move freely when it is released from
the nozzle. Thus, the intraocular lens can be more easily inserted
into an eye with the same kept in a more stable condition than by
the conventional ones.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the whole structure of an
intraocular lens insertion device according to a first embodiment
of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the front and side views
of a cartridge.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the whole structure of
the cartridge and a casing.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the cartridge being
placed onto the casing.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the front, side and back
views of the casing.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge used for
explanation of how the intraocular lens is installed in the
cartridge placed onto the casing.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge used for
explanation of how the intraocular lens is installed in the
cartridge according to a second embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the whole structure of
the intraocular lens insertion device with the casing according to
a third embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the structure of the
intraocular lens insertion device according to the third
embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the structures of the
casing and a cover body.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the intraocular lens
insertion device placed onto the casing according to the third
embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the front and side views
of the intraocular lens.
[0041] FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating how the intraocular
lens is inserted into the eye using the intraocular lens insertion
device.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of
the present invention are described hereinafter with reference to
the drawings.
First Embodiment
(1) Basic Structure of Intraocular Lens Insertion Device
[0042] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates an intraocular lens
insertion device as a whole. The intraocular lens insertion device
1 comprises a cartridge 2 and an insertion device body 3 having a
plunger 4. The cartridge 2 is attached to an attaching portion 3a
of the insertion device body 3. Further, the intraocular lens
insertion device 1 has an intraocular lens 100 installed in the
cartridge 2, and is structured so as to be able to discharge the
intraocular lens 100 from the tip end of the cartridge 2 into an
eye by pushing out the intraocular lens 100 in the lens-advancing
direction x (i.e., the direction of an arrow x, or an anterior
direction in the lens-advancing axis A) using the plunger 4.
(2) Structure of Cartridge
[0043] The cartridge 2 attached to the insertion device body 3 as
referred to above is described further below. As shown in FIG. 2
(A), the cartridge 2, serving as a cylindrical or tubular insertion
portion, comprises a cartridge body 14 composed of a lens insertion
opening 10, a lens placement portion 11, a transition portion 12
and a nozzle 13 in sequence, along the lens-advancing axis A; and
wings 15, 15 extending from both side faces of the cartridge body
14 along the lateral direction y perpendicular to the
lens-advancing direction x.
[0044] The lens insertion opening 10 is provided with an insertion
groove 16 formed on upper and lower surfaces by being cut out in
the lens-advancing direction x. The lens placement portion 11 is
provided anterior to the lens insertion opening 10 with respect to
the lens-advancing axis A, and the transition portion 12 is
provided anterior to the lens placement portion 11 with respect to
the lens-advancing axis A. An inner wall of the transition portion
12 is formed in the shape of a mortar gradually tapering toward the
tip end thereof, and the tip end of the transition portion 12 is
communicated with the nozzle 13.
[0045] In this way, the cartridge body 14 is formed such that the
intraocular lens 100 can be moved from the lens placement portion
11 through the transition portion 12 to the nozzle 13 in sequence
by being pushed with the plunger 4 in the lens-advancing direction
x. Also, the cartridge body 14 is formed so as to be able to
discharge the intraocular lens pushed by the plunger 4 into the eye
from a discharge port 13a of the nozzle 13. Here, the nozzle 13 is
contoured so that it can be inserted into an incision (not
shown).
[0046] In addition to the above-mentioned basic structure, the
cartridge 2 of the present invention is provided with a protrusion
insertion hole 20 formed so as to penetrate the thickness thereof
in the vicinity of the lens placement portion 11 toward the
vertical direction z perpendicular to both the lens-advancing
direction x and the lateral direction y, as illustrated in FIGS.
2(A) and 2(B). In the case of the present embodiment, the
protrusion insertion hole 20 is, as shown in FIG. 2(A), shifted
toward one side relative to the lens-advancing axis A (in this
case, downward) and is formed so as to allow a hole region thereof
to cross only a part of a transition space in which the intraocular
lens 100 moves.
[0047] Furthermore, the cartridge 2 is formed so as to be
detachable from a casing 22 on which a protrusion 21 is vertically
provided so that the protrusion 21 may be inserted into the
protrusion insertion hole 20 by attaching the cartridge 2 to the
casing. When the cartridge 2 is attached to the casing 22 and thus
the protrusion 21 is inserted into the protrusion insertion hole
20, the protrusion 21 is allowed to pass through a part of the
transition space in the cartridge 2 so that the tip end of the
protrusion 21 is exposed to the outside.
[0048] Here, as shown in FIGS. 5(A), 5(B) and 5(C), the casing 22
includes a casing main body 23 to which the cartridge 2 is
attached, and the casing main body 23 is provided with fixing claws
24, 24 for fixedly attaching the cartridge 2 to the casing main
body 23 and the said protrusion 21 that is to be inserted into the
protrusion insertion hole 20 at the time of the attachment of the
cartridge 2.
[0049] The casing main body 23 is integrally formed of a synthetic
resin material such as a plastic material, and comprises a tip-side
holding portion 25 holding the transition portion 12 and nozzle 13
of the cartridge 2; and an insertion-side holding portion 26
holding the lens insertion opening 10, lens placement portion 11
and wings 15, 15 of the cartridge 2.
[0050] According to the present embodiment, the tip-side holding
portion 25 includes a base plate 27 having a bell shape as a whole
such that its side faces are slightly concavely curved toward the
inside at their central portions, and a wall portion 28 vertically
provided along the outer fringe of the base plate 27. Thus, the
tip-side holding portion 25 is formed such that the side faces of
the wall portion 28 are also slightly concavely curved toward the
inside at their central portions, corresponding to the contour of
the base plate 27, so that it may be easily held between user's
thumb and index finger.
[0051] The tip-side holding portion 25 includes a cutout portion 30
provided at a wall portion 29 on a proximal portion thereof
adjacent to the insertion-side holding portion 26. The cutout
portion 30 is formed by being cut out in a concavely curved manner,
corresponding to the contour of the transition portion 12 of the
cartridge 2, thereby enabling the transition portion 12 of the
cartridge 2 to be placed on the cutout portion 30.
[0052] Further, the tip-side holding portion 25 includes an inner
wall portion 31 spaced a distance away from the wall portion 29 on
the proximal portion, extending toward the lateral direction y. The
inner wall portion 31 is cut out in a concavely curved manner,
corresponding to the contour of the transition portion 12 of the
cartridge 2, thereby enabling the transition portion 12 of the
cartridge 2 to be placed on a cutout portion 32 thereof as
well.
[0053] Furthermore, the tip-side holding portion 25 includes the
two fixing claws 24, 24 opposed to each other, at given positions
on the base plate 27 between the wall portion 29 on the proximal
side and the inner wall portion 31. Here, the two fixing claws 24,
24 have elastic retention capacity as a result of selecting a
synthetic resin material as a material, thereby expanding the
fixing claws 24, 24 toward the lateral direction y by an external
force applied at the time when the cartridge 2 is placed on the
casing 22 and returning the fixing claws 24, 24 to an original
state at the time when the external force is no longer applied.
[0054] The fixing claws 24, 24 are each provided, at their tip end,
with an engaging claw 24a folded back toward the upper face side of
the cartridge 2, so that the cartridge 2 may be fitted and held in
the casing 22 through the two fixing claws 24, 24 of the tip-side
holding portion 25.
[0055] On the other hand, the insertion-side holding portion 26
comprises a base plate 35 formed by cutting a rectangular plate in
a letter U shape, and a wall portion 36 vertically provided at both
side faces of the base plate 35. The insertion-side holding portion
26 is configured to hold the cartridge 2 due to the wings 15 of the
cartridge 2 abutting onto the upper faces of the wall portions 36
when the cartridge 2 is fitted in the fixing claws 24 of the
tip-side holding portion 25 (See FIG. 4).
[0056] In addition to the above-mentioned structure, the casing 22
of the present invention is provided with the protrusion 21
vertically extending from the base plate 35 of the insertion-side
holding portion 26. The protrusion 21 is formed so that it may be
able to be inserted into the protrusion insertion hole 20 of the
cartridge 2 when the cartridge 2 is installed in the casing 22
through the fixing claws 24, 24 of the tip-side holding portion
25.
[0057] In practice, the protrusion 21, serving as a folding means,
is strip-shaped and formed to have a given thickness, corresponding
to the shape of the opening of the protrusion insertion hole 20 of
the cartridge 2, and is vertically provided on the base plate 35 of
the insertion-side holding portion 26 so as to be extended in the
vertical direction z. With the cartridge 2 being installed on such
casing 22, the intraocular lens 100 can be inserted from the lens
insertion opening 10 of the cartridge 2.
[0058] Then, as shown in FIG. 6(A), the optical portion 101 of the
intraocular lens 100 is folded in two with supporting portions 102,
102 extended outward. With that posture, the optical portion 101 is
grasped with tweezers (not shown), and then, as shown in FIG. 6(B),
the intraocular lens is inserted into the lens insertion opening 10
while it is arranged so as to allow the tip end of one of the
supporting portions 102 to abut onto the protrusion 21. Here, for
sake of simplicity, the casing main body 23 is not shown but only
the protrusion 21 is shown in FIG. 6.
[0059] Then, the cartridge 2 allows the distal end of the
supporting portion 102 of the intraocular lens 100 to abut onto the
protrusion 21 that is exposed within the transition space 39. With
the tip actually being abutted onto the protrusion 21, the
intraocular lens 100 is inserted up to the lens placement portion
11 by the tweezers. In this way, as shown in FIG. 6(C), the
cartridge 2 allows the distal end of the supporting portion 102 to
be folded back by the protrusion 21 in the opposite direction
against the lens-advancing direction x (hereinafter, this is called
backward direction).
[0060] Thus, the cartridge 2 is able to place the intraocular lens
100 on the lens placement portion 11 with the supporting portion
102 being folded in a substantially U-shape by the protrusion
21.
[0061] Moreover, the cartridge 2 is formed such that the optical
portion 101 of the intraocular lens 100 abuts on the protrusion 21
that is inserted through the protrusion insertion hole 20 and is
exposed to the transition space 39, so that the protrusion 21
receives the optical portion 101, thereby precisely positioning the
intraocular lens 100 on the lens placement portion 11.
[0062] After that, the cartridge 2 is removed from the casing 22
and thus the protrusion 21 is allowed to disengage from the
protrusion insertion hole 20. However, the cartridge 2 can keep the
distal end of the supporting portion 102 folded back toward the
optical portion 101 by allowing the supporting portion 10 of the
intraocular lens 100, which had been abutted onto the protrusion 21
until then, to abut onto an inner wall 40 of the transition space
39. In such state, the cartridge 2 is capable of being attached to
the attaching portion 3a of the insertion device body 3. Thus, the
intraocular lens insertion device 1 allows the intraocular lens 100
to be pushed out by the plunger 4 toward the lens-advancing
direction x with the supporting portion 102 being folded back, thus
enabling the intraocular lens 100 to be released into an eye from
the nozzle 13 provided on the tip end of the cartridge 2.
[0063] At this time, the intraocular lens insertion device 1 of the
present invention allows the curved portion of the folded
supporting portion 102, which has become U-shaped and less likely
to move freely, to be exposed from the discharge port 13a of the
nozzle 13, and then allows the optical portion 101 to be released
from the discharge port 13a thereof by pushing out the intraocular
lens 100 by the plunger 4, thereby preventing only the distal end
of the supporting portion 102 from being released and moved freely
in the process of releasing the intraocular lens 100 into the eye
from the tip end of the cartridge 2.
3. Behavior and Effects
[0064] According to the above-mentioned structure, the cartridge 2
is installed in the casing 22, thereby allowing the protrusion 21
provided on the casing 22 to be inserted into the protrusion
insertion hole 20 so that the protrusion 21 can be exposed to the
transition space 39.
[0065] A user may insert the intraocular lens 100 from the lens
insertion opening 10 with the cartridge 2 being installed in the
casing 22, and place the intraocular lens 100 on the lens placement
portion 11. At this time, the user can pinch the wall portion 28 of
the casing 22 much larger in size than the wings 15, 15 without
directly pinching the wings 15, 15 of the cartridge 2, thereby
enabling the cartridge 2 to be easily stabilized. Thus, the user
can place the intraocular lens 100 on the lens placement portion 11
more easily than by the conventional ones.
[0066] Further, the user can hold the cartridge 2 in a stable
condition by pinching the wall portion 28 of the casing 22, thus
enabling the user to easily fill a viscoelastic material such as a
hyaluronic acid preparation for ophthalmic application into the
inside of the cartridge 2.
[0067] Furthermore, according to the cartridge 2, when the
intraocular lens 100 is gradually inserted from the lens insertion
opening 10 in order to place the intraocular lens 100 on the lens
placement portion 11, the distal end of the supporting portion 102
of the intraocular lens 100 is allowed to abut on the protrusion
21, and thus the distal end of the supporting portion 102 in the
lens-advancing direction x can be folded backward.
[0068] Particularly, according to the present embodiment, since the
protrusion 21 is not exposed all through the transition space 39,
but is only exposed in a part thereof at one side in the
lens-advancing axis A, it is possible to allow only the distal end
of the supporting portion 102 to abut on the protrusion 21, thereby
ensuring an intermediate portion between the distal end of the
supporting portion 102 and the proximal portion thereof to be
folded in a U-shape.
[0069] According to the intraocular lens insertion device 1,
therefore, the supporting portion 102 of the intraocular lens
placed on the lens advancing side with respect to the
lens-advancing direction x is pressed against the protrusion 21 to
thereby be folded backward, thus enabling the curved portion of the
folded supporting portion 102, which has become U-shaped and less
likely to move freely, to be first released when releasing the
intraocular lens 100 from the nozzle 13. Thus, the intraocular lens
100 can be more easily inserted into an eye with the same kept in a
more stable condition than by the conventional ones.
[0070] Moreover, the intraocular lens insertion device 1 is
detachably provided with the protrusion 21, thereby preventing the
protrusion 21 from blocking the movement of the intraocular lens
100 when inserting the intraocular lens 100 into an eye.
[0071] Additionally, according to the present embodiment, the
protrusion insertion hole 20 of the cartridge 2 is drilled at the
top face of the lens placement portion 11 so that the tip of the
protrusion 21 of the casing 22 is exposed from the top face of the
lens placement portion 11, and thus a user can visually confirm the
position of the protrusion 21 in a moment. Accordingly, it is
possible to ensure the distal end of the supporting portion 102 to
be properly placed on the side of the protrusion 21 so that the
supporting portion 102 may be pressed to the protrusion 21 and
folded when the intraocular lens 100 is placed on the lens
placement portion 11.
[0072] Also, according to the present embodiment, the protrusion 21
is provided on the casing 22, and thus even thin and short
protrusion 21 can be inserted into and removed from the protrusion
insertion hole 20 of the cartridge 2 by just attaching and
detaching the casing 22 to and from the cartridge 2.
[0073] Besides, the cartridge 2 is installed in the casing 22, and
thus the nozzle 13, the transition portion 12 and the like can be
protected against an external force owing to the casing 22. In
addition, the cartridge 2 can be placed on a pedestal with the
casing 22 installed, thus preventing the nozzle 13, the transition
portion 12 and the like from directly contacting the pedestal.
Accordingly, the cartridge 2 can be always kept clean.
Second Embodiment
[0074] FIG. 7 which is given the same reference numerals as
corresponding parts in FIG. 6 shows a cartridge according to a
second embodiment. A cartridge 50 is different from that of the
foregoing first embodiment in that the optical portion 101 is
inserted into a lens insertion opening 51 without being folded in
half.
[0075] In practice, as shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B), the cartridge
50 is formed so as to be able to be installed in the casing not
shown in the drawings. When it is installed in the casing, a
protrusion 52 provided on the casing is allowed to be inserted into
a protrusion insertion hole 53. In the meantime, for sake of
simplicity, the casing is not shown in FIG. 7 but only the
protrusion 52 is shown therein.
[0076] In practice, the protrusion insertion hole 53 is drilled so
as to penetrate the thickness in the vicinity of the lens placement
portion 54 toward the bottom-to-top direction (toward a viewer
seeing the drawing) perpendicular to both the lens-advancing
direction x and the lateral direction y. In this embodiment, the
protrusion insertion hole 20 is drilled in the substantial center
of the lens placement portion 54 so as to cross the lens-advancing
axis A, and thus an hole region is formed in the middle of the
transition space in which the intraocular lens 100 moves.
[0077] Thus, when the protrusion 52 is inserted into protrusion
insertion hole 53 by installing the cartridge 50 in the casing, the
protrusion 52 passes through the middle of the transition space 39
and the tip of the protrusion 52 can be exposed to the outside.
[0078] In that state, the intraocular lens 100 is pinched with a
tweezers (not shown) with the supporting portions 102, 102
extending outwardly and the optical portion 101 unfolded, and then
it may be inserted into the lens insertion opening 51 of the
cartridge 50, with the tip of one supporting portion 102 being the
leading end, as illustrated in FIG. 7(C).
[0079] At this time, the cartridge 50 allows the distal end of the
supporting portion 102 of the intraocular lens 100 to abut on the
protrusion 21 exposed inside the transition space 39. In that
state, the intraocular lens 100 is inserted up to the lens
placement portion 54 by the tweezers. In this way, as shown in FIG.
6(D), the cartridge 50 allows the distal end of the supporting
portion 102 to be folded back along a curved surface of the
protrusion 52 in the opposite direction relative to the
lens-advancing direction x. Thus, the cartridge 50 enables the
intraocular lens 100 to be placed on the lens placement portion 54
with the supporting portion 102 being folded in a U-shape by the
protrusion 52.
[0080] In this embodiment, the surface of the protrusion 52 on
which the supporting portion 102 of the intraocular lens 100 abuts
is curved toward a given direction, thereby ensuring the supporting
portion 102 of the intraocular lens 100 to be bent in a desired
direction along the curved surface.
[0081] After that, like in the above-mentioned first embodiment,
the cartridge 50 is removed from the casing and thus the protrusion
52 disengages from the protrusion insertion hole 53. The cartridge
50, however, is capable of keeping the distal end of the supporting
portion 102 folded due to the supporting portion 102 of the
intraocular lens 100, which had been abutted on the protrusion 52
until then, to then abut onto the inner wall 40 in the transition
space 39. In such state, the cartridge 50 is capable of being
attached to the attaching portion of the insertion device body not
shown. Thus, the intraocular lens insertion device allows the
intraocular lens 100 to be pushed out by the plunger 4 in the
lens-advancing direction x with the supporting portion 102 being
folded back, thus enabling the intraocular lens 100 to be released
into an eye from the nozzle 13 provided on the tip end of the
cartridge 2.
Third Embodiment
[0082] In FIG. 8, numeral 60 denotes an assembly of an intraocular
lens insertion device and a casing according to a third embodiment.
The assembly 60 of an intraocular lens insertion device and a
casing comprises an intraocular lens insertion device 61, a casing
62 on which the intraocular lens insertion device 61 is detachably
installed, and a cover body 63 which is detachably attached to the
casing 62 on which the intraocular lens insertion device 61 is
installed to cover the intraocular lens insertion device 61.
[0083] At first, the intraocular lens insertion device 61 is
described hereinbelow. The intraocular lens insertion device 61 is
of a preset-type in which the intraocular lens 100 is set in
advance, unlike in the foregoing first and second embodiments.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 9, the intraocular lens insertion device 61
comprises a main body 66, a slider 67, a plunger 68 and a locking
mechanism, and this main body 66 comprises a cylindrical proximal
member 70 and a tapered distal member 71.
[0085] In this case, a lens placement portion (not shown) made of a
plate member is provided in the distal portion of the proximal
member 70 on the lens advancing side with respect to the
lens-advancing axis A so that the intraocular lens 100 may be
placed on the lens placement portion. Further, the tapered distal
member 71 is connected integrally with the proximal member 70 so
that the intraocular lens 100 placed on the lens placement portion
of the proximal member 70 may be placed in the inside of the
tapered distal member 71.
[0086] The slider 67 and the plunger 68 are provided so as to be
movable back-and-forth in the main body 66. The locking mechanism
69 can limit the forward movement of the plunger 68. The locking
mechanism 69 is unlocked by moving the slider 67 forward, thereby
allowing the plunger 68 to be movable forward.
[0087] The intraocular lens insertion device 61 thus structured
allows the intraocular lens 100 to be pushed by the slider 67 so
that it is properly folded in a predetermined shape at first, and
then allows the intraocular lens 100 to be inserted into an eye by
folding the intraocular lens 100 even smaller by continuously
pushing the intraocular lens 100 by the plunger 68. Accordingly,
the intraocular lens insertion device 61 is structured such that
the locking mechanism 69 thereof ensures that the intraocular lens
100 is prevented from being pushed out by the plunger 68 prior to
being pushed out by the slider 67, and thus the intraocular lens
100 placed in the main body 66 is folded as it is moved forward in
two steps by the slider 67 and then by the plunger.
[0088] These matters have already been disclosed by the present
applicant. For details relating to the matters, one may refer to
the description in Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention in
PCT/JP2008/59995, for example.
[0089] In this case, the cylindrical insertion portion according to
claim 1 comprises the lens placement portion and the tapered distal
member 71, and in the tapered distal member 71, a protrusion
insertion hole 73 is drilled so as to penetrate the thickness of
the tapered distal member 71 toward the vertical direction z
perpendicular to both the lens-advancing direction x and the
lateral direction y. According to this embodiment, the protrusion
insertion hole 73 is drilled in the approximate center of the lens
placement portion 54 so as to cross the lens-advancing axis A, and
a hole region is formed in the middle of the transition space in
which the intraocular lens 100 moves.
[0090] The intraocular lens insertion device 61 is capable of being
removably attached to the casing 62 which is separate from the
intraocular lens insertion device 61 and is formed from e.g., a
synthetic resin material into a one-piece structure. As shown in
FIG. 10, a U-shaped wall portion 76 is vertically provided on a
base plate 75 of the casing 63, in a manner surrounding the
intraocular lens insertion device 61, while a protrusion 80 is
vertically provided on a given position of the base plate 75.
[0091] The protrusion 80 has the same structure as that of the
foregoing second embodiment so that it may be, as shown in FIG. 11,
inserted into the protrusion insertion hole 73 of the intraocular
lens insertion device 61 by installing the intraocular lens
insertion device 61 in the casing 62. In this way, in the
intraocular lens insertion device 61, the protrusion 80 of the
casing 62 can be arranged in the center region of the transition
space of the tapered distal member 71.
[0092] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the wall portion 76 of the casing
62 is formed, on its both sides, with a stepped portion 81 whose
height from the base plate 75 is comparatively low. As shown in
FIG. 11, when the intraocular lens insertion device 61 is
installed, the slider 67 of the intraocular lens insertion device
61 is capable of being located on the stepped portion 81.
[0093] At this time, there is a given distance between an abutting
surface 82 of the wall portion 76 and the slider 67 of the
intraocular lens insertion device 61.
[0094] Thus, the intraocular lens insertion device 61 can move the
intraocular lens 100 installed inside the tapered distal member 71
toward the lens-advancing direction x up to a given position, by
allowing the slider 67 in the lens-advancing direction x until it
abuts on the abutting surface 82 of the wall portion 76 of the
casing 62.
[0095] In this way, like in the foregoing second embodiment, the
intraocular lens 100 is allowed to have its supporting portion 102
abutted on the protrusion 80 so as to have the tip end of the
supporting portion 102 folded back along a curved surface of the
protrusion 80 in the backward direction opposed to the
lens-advancing direction x. Thus, the intraocular lens insertion
device 61 is capable of placing the intraocular lens 100 on the
lens placement portion (not shown) with the supporting portion 102
folded in a substantially U-shape by the protrusion 80.
[0096] Also, the intraocular lens insertion device 61 is detached
from the casing 62 with the above arrangement being retained, and
then the intraocular lens 100 is pushed out by the plunger 68 in
the lens-advancing direction x with the supporting portion 102
folded back, thereby allowing the intraocular lens 100 to be
released from a nozzle 85 of the tapered distal member 71.
[0097] In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 10, fitting holes 86 are
drilled on the top surface of the wall portion 76 of the casing 62
so that fitting protrusions 87 provided on the lower surface of the
cover body 63 may be fitted into the fitting holes 86, thereby
allowing the cover body 63 to be attached to the casing 62.
[0098] In practice, the contour of the lower surface of the cover
body 63 is formed corresponding to that of the top surface of the
wall portion 76 of the casing 62, and thus it includes a stepped
abutting portion 88 formed corresponding to the shape of the
stepped portion 81 of the wall portion 76.
[0099] Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, when the cover body 63 is
attached to the casing 62 on which the intraocular lens insertion
device 61 is installed, the stepped abutting portion 88 is fitted
in a gap formed between the abutting surface 82 of the wall portion
76 of the casing 62 and the slider 67 of the intraocular lens
insertion device 61, thereby preventing the slider 67 from
sliding.
[0100] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 10, the cover body 63 may
have, for example, two positioning protrusions 90, 91 on the lower
surface thereof so that the positioning protrusions 90, 91 may be
inserted into positioning holes 92, 93 drilled in the tapered
distal member 71 of the intraocular lens insertion device 61 (see
FIG. 9). Accordingly, when the cover body 63 is attached to the
casing 62, the positioning protrusions 90, 91 of the cover body 63
are inserted into these positioning holes 92, 93 respectively,
thereby allowing the two supporting portions 102, 102 of the
intraocular lens 100 to be properly positioned by allowing them to
abut on the positioning protrusions 90, 91. Here, it is to be noted
that the intraocular lens insertion device 61 allows a viscoelastic
material such as a hyaluronic acid preparation for ophthalmic
application to be filled thereinside through one positioning hole
91 by a syringe or the like not shown in the drawings.
[0101] From the above-mentioned structure, the intraocular lens
insertion device 61 enables the supporting portion 102 of the
intraocular lens 100 arranged on the lens-advancing side with
respect to the lens-advancing direction x to be bent by the
protrusion 80 in the backward direction, thus enabling the curved
portion of the supporting portion 102, which has become U-shaped
and hardly movable, to be released first when releasing the
intraocular lens 100 from the tapered distal member 71, thereby
enabling the intraocular lens 100 to be inserted into an eye more
easily and stably compared to by the conventional ones.
Other Embodiments
[0102] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing
embodiments and various modifications are possible within the scope
of the gist of the present invention. For example, the protrusion
may be formed in a circular or various other shapes. Further, the
present invention is also applicable to other intraocular lens
which has only one supporting portion, or three, four or more
supporting portions provided on the optical portion.
[0103] Whilst the supporting portion 102 is folded in a U-shape by
the protrusions 21, 52, 80 in the foregoing embodiments, the
present invention is not limited thereto, but the supporting
portion 102 may be folded in V-, C-, L- or various other shapes by
the protrusions 21, 52, 80.
[0104] Moreover, whilst the protrusions 21, 52, 80 extending in the
vertical direction z are proposed in the foregoing embodiments, the
present invention is not limited thereto. Any other protrusions
extending in the lateral direction y, oblique direction, or various
other directions may be possible, as long as the distal end of the
supporting portion 102 of the intraocular lens 100 can be folded in
the backward direction which is opposed to the lens-advancing
direction x. In these cases, a protrusion insertion hole may be
drilled in the cartridge 2, 50 and the tapered distal member 71,
corresponding to the extending direction of the protrusion.
[0105] Additionally, whilst the protrusions 21, 80 are provided on
the casings 22, 62 respectively in the foregoing embodiments, the
present invention is not limited thereto, but various other
configurations are applicable, such that only the protrusion may be
detachably provided, or the protrusion may be provided on the
cartridge or tapered distal member itself, and then moved by a
slide mechanism.
[0106] In addition, whilst the protrusion insertion hole 20 is
provided in the vicinity of the lens placement portion 11 in the
foregoing embodiments, the present invention is not limited to
this. The protrusion 21 may be provided on the lens insertion
opening 10, transition portion 12, or various other portions, as
long as the tip end of the supporting portion 102 of the
intraocular lens 100 can be folded in the backward direction as
opposed to the lens-advancing direction x when the intraocular lens
is released from the nozzle 13.
[0107] In addition to the foregoing, whilst the protrusion
insertion hole 20 is drilled through between the top surface and
the lower surface of the lens placement portion 11 and the tip of
the protrusion 21 is exposed from the top surface of the lens
placement portion 11 in the foregoing embodiments, the present
invention is not limited thereto. The protrusion insertion hole 20
may be drilled through only the lower surface of the lens placement
portion 11 so that the tip of the protrusion 21 may not be exposed
from the top surface of the lens placement portion 11.
* * * * *